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This page last updated Feb 13 2005
2004-0331 - Newstalk ZB - Police bosses
support PCA decision
The Government's proposed amendment to the current law would see files
generated by police, on behalf of the PCA, provided to the inquiry. Assistant
Commissioner Howard Broad says police understand the Commission's activities
should not be hampered by an inability to access material which the
Commission considers vital to its operation. However, the Police Association
fears a worrying precedent will be set by Government plans to change to law
to suit the Commission of Inquiry into police conduct.
2004-0331 - Scoop - Proposed amendment to the
Police Complaints Authority Act
Press Release; NZ police - "In keeping with our intention to co-operate
fully with the Commission of Inquiry and the need for openness and transparency,
we understand that the Commission’s activities should not be hampered by an
inability to access material which the Commission considers vital to its
operation."
2004-0331 - Otago Daily Times - Commission to
view files
NZPA - A commission of inquiry sparked by allegations of police pack rape
will be able to see files covered by secrecy provisions in the law under
proposed legislation introduced yesterday. …..Associate Justice Minister
Margaret Wilson said the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Amendment Bill
would introduce temporary provisions enabling the commission to fulfil its
terms of reference by seeing PCA files on the matter.
2004-0331 - Act Party - New Police Bill
Exposes Government Disarray
Press Release by Dr Muriel Newman - The shambles with which the Police
Complaints Authority Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament last night
- under Urgency - has exposed, what must be, a high level of disarray within
Labour, ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.
"The Bill seeks to make an extraordinary constitutional change, and was
tabled in Parliament after Minister Margaret Wilson began her introductory
speech - giving other parties no time to take advice on the significant
changes being proposed," Dr Newman said.
2004-0331 - Dominion Post - Law to open
secret files
by Tracy Watkins - Legislation is being rushed through Parliament to open up
secret files relating to allegations of misconduct against police to a
commission of inquiry. The move, which has alarmed the Police Association,
will throw open thousands of files containing the evidence of witnesses
previously assured that their evidence would be kept secret.
2004-0331 - One News - Move to expose police
files
A privacy law specialist says legislation opening the secret files of the
Police Complaints Authority could be a slippery slope for the government……But
law specialist John Hannan says if the commission finds there are serious
matters needing further investigation, it will be hard for the government to
resist calls to allow the PCA's files to be used for a criminal
investigation. The Police Association has criticised the bill, saying the
authority will not be able to guarantee witnesses that the information they
give will be kept secret.
2004-0331 - NZ Herald - Police rape inquiry
to study PCA files
by Jo-Marie Brown - The Government will lift secrecy provisions that prevent
the Police Complaints Authority from revealing information so allegations of
police pack rape can be investigated. Yesterday it introduced an amendment
bill to Parliament to deal with concerns that historic PCA files could not
legally be handed over to the commission of inquiry looking into police
conduct
2004-0330 - Newstalk ZB - PCA files will be
opened
The Government is changing the law to allow the Commission of Inquiry into
allegations of rape by police officers to open Police Complaints Authority
files. Legislation will get its first reading under urgency in Parliament
this week.
2004-0330 - NZ Government - PCA Amendment
will aid police conduct inquiry
Press Release by Margaret Wilson - The PCA Amendment Bill, which will have
its first reading this week under urgency, will introduce temporary
provisions enabling the Commission to fulfil its terms of reference,
Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson said today. "Investigation
files held by the PCA are currently subject to blanket secrecy provisions. This is likely to include information
gathered by police conducting investigations on the PCA's behalf,"
Margaret Wilson said.
2004-0327 - NZ Herald - Officer groped me,
says woman
by
Jo-Marie Brown - Another Rotorua woman has alleged that she was sexually
assaulted by a police officer in the city during the late 1980s. The woman,
who asked not to be named, was just 17 when she says a serving officer tried
to rip her clothes off and put his hands down her pants outside the Rotorua
Police Station late one evening.
2004-0327 - Dominion Post - Rape inquiry will
go on, says Robinson
Police Commissioner Rob Robinson has ruled out suspending or dropping any
investigation into rape allegations made against police while a commission of
inquiry proceeds. "Police have received a very serious complaint and is
the only agency in the country with the statutory powers to conduct such an
investigation," Mr Robinson said yesterday.
2004-0327 - Newstalk ZB - Police: Nicholas
inquiry will continue
Police commissioner says investigation into Nicholas accusations will
continue, despite call from MP Stephen Franks…..Commissioner Rob Robinson
says police received a very serious complaint and are the only agency with
the powers to conduct such an investigation…..In fairness to the complainant
and those named, the investigation will proceed to a conclusion.
2004-0326 - Dominion Post - Nicholas drained
by weeks of questioning
Weeks of intensive police interviews, some lasting more than five hours a
day, have finally eased off for Louise Nicholas. For more than a month, the
woman whose claims of pack-rape in 1986 by three police officers sparked a
commission of inquiry into police conduct, has sat down with a detective at
her house almost every day and retold her story in minute detail, from start
to finish. It has seemed like an eternity.
2004-0326 - Dominion Post - MP urges police
to drop rape inquiry
by Gordon Jon Thompson - Police should suspend or drop the investigation into
police rape allegations to give precedence to a commission of inquiry into
the claims, ACT MP Stephen Franks says. The police investigation was
hampering the "toothless" commission's inquiry into the allegations
and the force's handling of the cases, Mr Franks said. Police should forget
about prosecuting those accused of rape to allow the commission of inquiry to
work effectively, he said. Because of the historical nature of many of the
claims, the commission of inquiry had to come first
2004-0324 - Dominion Post - Confidence
warning on PCA job
by Tracy Watkins - The Green Party has refused to support the reappointment
of Police Complaints Authority head Ian Borrin, as fresh questions are raised
about its independence. ….. Mr Tanczos said the PCA needed a shakeup. He
referred to the "curiously contradictory" findings of two PCA
reports into the investigations by former Rotorua CIB head John Dewar of
historic sex allegations against fellow police. ….."The credibility of
the Police Complaints Authority is under serious threat.
2004-0323 - The Press - Police rape inquiry
delay likely
by Haydon Dewes - A Commission of Inquiry into police conduct is in danger of
missing its November deadline due to Police Complaints Authority secrecy
rules. The police's own investigation into allegations of police pack rape
could also hinder proceedings as most files could not be disclosed until its
inquiry, which still had "some months" to run, was complete.
2004-0323 - Dominion Post - Police secrecy
rules likely to delay inquiry
by Haydon Dewes - A commission of inquiry into police conduct risks missing
its November deadline because of Police Complaints Authority secrecy rules.
The police's own investigation into allegations of police pack rape could
also hinder proceedings as most files cannot be disclosed till the
investigation, which still has "some months" to run, is complete
2004-0323 - Manawatu Standard - Policing the
police is no easy task
Editorial - If there is one good thing that might come out of the commission
of inquiry about to begin work into police rape allegations, it is that the
Police Complaints Authority may get sharper and more effective teeth.
Legislation to reform the authority is on hold until the commission reports
back to the Government, and is scheduled to happen in November.
2004-0323 - NZ Herald - Police-rape inquiry
faces legal gag
by Jo-Marie Brown - A secrecy clause that prevents the Police Complaints
Authority from divulging information may hinder the commission of inquiry looking
into police pack rape allegations. The legal obstacle was raised at the
inquiry's first public hearing in Wellington
yesterday by commissioners Justice Bruce Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley
2004-0322 - Newstalk ZB - Inquiry opens doors
to other complaints
Police rape Commission of Inquiry ready to hear from anyone who has relevant
evidence to give. One of the first people to be hired by the police rape
Commission of Inquiry will be someone to gather complainants' stories.
2004-0322 - NZ Herald - Secrecy law could
hamper inquiry into police conduct
by Michael Daly - Blanket secrecy provisions in the law governing the Police
Complaints Authority are threatening to hamper the work of a Commission of
Inquiry sparked by allegations of police pack rape.
2004-0322 - Newstalk ZB - Snag to Commission
of Inquiry
Legal
protection surrounding PCA's documentation may prove to be stumbling block in
inquiry into police rape complaints……There is also concern about conflicts
with current police investigations into men at the centre of the inquiry.
2004-0322 - Stuff - Secrecy laws may hamper
commission
NZPA - Blanket secrecy provisions in the law governing the Police Complaints
Authority (PCA) are threatening to hamper the work of a Commission of Inquiry
sparked by allegations of police pack rape. At the commission's first public
meeting in Wellington
today, John Upton QC representing the PCA, said his client wished to
cooperate as fully as it could but legal difficulties were likely. "We
do have this legislative blanket," he said. "I'm sorry to be so
negative early in these proceedings, but it's a reality we need to
recognise."
2004-0322 - NZ Herald - Rape-probe parties to
get together
by
Jo-Marie Brown - The commission of inquiry set up to look into historic rape
allegations against police officers and claims of cover-ups will hold its
first public hearing today.
2004-0322 - Newstalk ZB - Commission into
rape claims underway
Public
meeting into police handling of rape allegations and police standards gets
underway with public meeting in Wellington
2004-0321 - Dominion Post - File missing as
police rape inquiry begins
by
Kelly Andrew - Crucial evidence could be missing when the commission of
inquiry into police rape allegations meets for the first time today. The
police investigation file into Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas' allegations she
was raped by police officers has been lost since 1997, according to a police
document obtained by the Sunday current affairs television programme. The
document, dated June 1997, says extensive inquiries failed to find the
original investigation file.
2004-0321 - One News - Broken trust in search
for justice
Lost
police files and connections between investigators and alleged perpetrators
are adding fresh controversy to Louise Nicholas' claims of police pack rape.
2004-0316 - Dominion Post - Police rape claim
inquiry starts Monday
Final
figures of how many people came forward to make submissions before the
deadline at 5pm yesterday were not available last night, though a commission
spokesman said expressions of interest would still be accepted. The deadline
had been set to allow the commission to gauge the range of submissions likely
to be made.
2004-0316 - Dominion Post - Lawyers to meet
to set out hearing process
About
15 lawyers are expected at the first meeting of the commission of inquiry
into police rape allegations. Next Monday's (March 22) hearing in Wellington will set out
the process for the hearing of evidence. The hearings should begin in May and
last till July. Final figures of how many people came forward to make
submissions before the deadline at 5pm today were not available tonight,
though a commission spokesman said expressions of interest would still be
accepted. The deadline had been set to allow the commission to gauge the
range of submissions likely to be made.
2004-0309 - NZ Herald - Police union asked
for help in sex-claims case
by Jo-Marie Brown - At least one of the men at the centre of historic
sex-attack allegations against police staff has asked the police union to
help pay his legal bills
2004-0308 - Stuff - Police Commissioner hails
rape inquiry
NZPA - An independent public inquiry into allegations of sexual impropriety
by current and former police officers is needed to maintain public confidence
in the force, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson says. ……..Mr Robinson told
staff he welcomed the inquiry. "Public trust and confidence in New
Zealand Police is the supreme issue that must be addressed, and given the
nature of the current set of allegations involving police officers, that
issue can only be resolved by authorities beyond police."
2004-0308 - Otago Daily Times - Dewar welcomes inquiry
A former detective inspector criticised by two judges for his handling of
rape complaints against three police officers looks forward to a commission
of inquiry into the allegations
2004-0308 - Newstalk ZB - Inquiry hears rape
claims in a fortnight
The Commission of Inquiry into police handling of rape allegations will to
begin in two weeks. Its first public meeting will be in Wellington on March 22.
2004-0308 - NZ Herald - Police taunted over
rape allegations
by Louisa Cleave - Police on the frontline have endured "barbed comments
and sarcasm" since allegations of a pack-rape were made public,
according to their boss. Commissioner Rob Robinson has encouraged staff to
keep focused on the job and maintain professionalism in a message in the
police newsletter, Ten One
2004-0306 - The Press - Similarities between
police and gangs evident
Letter to the Editor by Fiona Chapman - There can be no confidence in a
police force that demonstrates attitudes and behaviour akin to those it aims
to police
2004-0306 - Dominion Post -
Investigating officer rejects judges' censure in Nicholas case
by Fran Tyler - The police officer criticised by judges over the way police
handled Louise Nicholas' rape complaint against three policemen when she was
aged about 18 said he did not have a chance to explain himself. ……The lifting
of the suppressions allowed criticisms of investigating officer John Dewar,
made by Judge Michael Lance in 1995 and Judge Philip Evans, to be made public.
Judge Lance criticised Mr Dewar in a costs decision against police.
2004-0306 - NZ Herald - Judges wrong says
ex-detective
by Eugene Bingham - Former Detective Inspector John Dewar has rejected
criticism levelled at him by two judges over his handling of the Louise
Nicholas sex allegations. ….The judges' comments were made in 1994 when a
former policeman was cleared of sex allegations made by Mrs Nicholas after
three trials.
2004-0306 - Stuff - Police commission of
inquiry advertised this weekend
NZPA - Public notices calling for submissions and comment on the Commission
of Inquiry into Police Conduct are to appear in newspapers this weekend.
2004-0304 - One News - Time limit in police
rape inquiry
People wanting to make submissions to an inquiry into police rape
claims have less than a fortnight to say they want to be heard. The
commission of inquiry, sparked by a Rotorua woman's pack rape claims, is
setting March 15 as the deadline for registering interest.
2004-0304 - Otago Daily Times - Rape claims
raised in old court case
Previously secret documents reveal the three policemen accused of
pack-raping Louise Nicholas have faced a courtroom grilling about the
allegations. Mr Rickards said he had
sex with Mrs Nicholas twice in about 1986, when she was an 18-year-old Rotorua
BNZ bank teller. On one occasion, another person was present. However, asked
whether the sex was against her will or involved a police baton, he said:
"That is certainly not true." The jury was taken from the courtroom
after Mr Rickards indicated he wanted to say something to the judge. "I just
find it astonishing at least six or seven years after this is alleged to have
occurred that I have been called to court to explain to a judge and jury that
I have had consensual sex with the victim," he said.
2004-0304 - Otago Daily Times - Police
legislation on hold
NZPA - Wellington:
Legislation to reform the Police Complaints Authority is on hold until the
commission of inquiry into rape allegations against police officers has
reported to the Government
2004-0304 - Newstalk ZB - Angry protest
outside police HQ
Wellington Central Police Station sees angry protest over alleged rape
cases involving police. A group has been protesting angrily outside
Wellington Central Police Station this evening. Protesters were banging pots
and pans in a noise barrage to express their concern over the alleged rape
cases involving police
2004-0304 - Protest - Press Release
People
will be gathering from 5:30pm outside the central Wellington Police Station
in protest against the alleged rape cases perpetrated by police that have
been highlighted by the media recently. “This is a chance for women to
express their rage about the police perpetrating rape, and then covering it
up,” says organiser Sarah Helm.
2004-0304 - The Press - Judge lambasted detective
Fresh
revelations about the background of Louise Nicholas's pack-rape allegations
show she admitted making up a rape complaint against a group of Maori youths. Details
about Nicholas's claims were aired in three trials held in Rotorua during
1993 and 1994, although they were covered by suppression orders lifted only
yesterday after an application by the Dominion Post newspaper.
2004-0304 - NZ Herald - Judge
by
Eugene Bingham - Previously secret documents reveal the three policemen
accused of pack-raping Louise Nicholas have faced a courtroom grilling about
the allegations. Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum were called to
give evidence under oath in a 1994 trial relating to separate sex claims
against another policeman. Mrs Nicholas had accused the officer of having sex
with her and indecently assaulting her when she was a teenager. He was
acquitted after three trials.
2004-0304 - NZ Herald - Allegations
by
Eugene Bingham - Fresh revelations about the background pack-rape allegations
by Louise Nicholas show she first complained of sexual abuse by police as a
schoolgirl. Court documents record evidence that her mother sought help for
her but was put off by a local policeman - later accused of also interfering
with Mrs Nicholas. Details about Mrs Nicholas' claims were aired in three
trials held in Rotorua during 1993-1994, although they were covered by
suppression orders lifted only yesterday
2004-0304 - Dominion Post - Former policeman
fails to maintain suppression order
Napier
car dealer Bob Schollum has failed in his attempt to prevent The Dominion
Post publishing details of a rape case in which he gave evidence.
2004-0304 - Dominion Post - Judges censure
police over handling of Nicholas' rape complaints
by
Philip Kitchin - Two judges have sharply criticised the way police handled
Louise Nicholas' rape complaints against three officers. It has been revealed
– after The Dominion Post successfully had some suppression orders lifted in
three rape trials against a fourth man – that investigating officer John
Dewar's failure to record her allegations against the three officers brought
a stinging rebuke from Judge Michael Lance in 1995.
2004-0303 - One News - Rape case
judge had concerns
A
judge's criticisms of police handling of the rape allegations against three Rotorua
policemen have now been revealed. Kept secret for 10 years by suppression
orders, the judge's concerns relate to police handling of a case at the
centre of an upcoming commission of inquiry. They have only been released
after legal action from the media.
2004-0302 - Stuff - $3m set aside for police
rape inquiry
NZPA - The Government has set aside $3 million for the Commission of
Inquiry into historic allegations of police rape. Prime Minister Helen Clark
said cabinet had approved the budget up to $3m today. The cost would be
spread over this financial year and the next one, she said.
2004-0302 - Otago Daily Times -
Sidelined while pack rape claims examined
NZPA - Former detective John Dewar has been sidelined from his job as
a St John Ambulance executive while under investigation over police sexual
misconduct claims
2004-0302 - Dominion Post - Dewar removed from St John Ambulance post
The
decision to remove former detective John Dewar from his senior post at St
John Ambulance followed lengthy discussions with bosses after he was
implicated in police sexual misconduct accusations.
2004-0301 - Waikato Times - Ex-cop on leave
from St John during inquiry
St John chief Jaimes Wood confirmed to the Times last month that Mr
Dewar's appointment was met with concern from staff who forwarded letters to
his Wellington office about his history. Since the allegations surfaced there
have been more anonymous letters and staff concerns
2004-0301 - One News - Dewar on
leave during inquiry
A former detective accused of mishandling police pack rape complaints
is on leave of absence from his management role at St John's Ambulance.
2004-0301 - Newstalk ZB - Dewar
steps down from ambulance job
John Dewar, former detective investigated for alleged sexual
misconduct, steps down from job at St John Ambulance….John Dewar has taken a
leave of absence while a Commission of Inquiry investigates issues stemming
from Louise Nicholas' complaint of being pack-raped by Rotorua police in the
1980s.
2004-0301 - NZ Herald - Dewar sidelined from
St John during police sex inquiry
by Mathew Dearnaley - Former detective John Dewar has been sidelined
from his job as a St John Ambulance executive while under investigation over
police sexual misconduct claims.
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